A restaurant is often only as good as its reviews. Whether we read an article recommending that new Italian place downtown or one of our friends won't shut up about it, most likely, we will still check out its online rating and read what other people think of it before deciding to go there.
However, the democratization of criticism isn't always a good thing. And the subreddit r/YelpDrama features plenty of reasons why.
A popular category among its posts is ridiculous restaurant reviews that prove the customer isn't always right. We're talking trashing a joint that wasn't even open when you "ordered" your food, or a one star because they wouldn't allow you to order water and eat the meals you brought there yourself.
Continue scrolling and check them out!
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Hmm
Ewww! A Gay Waiter!
Another problem is with platforms like Yelp and TripAdvisor is the fact that they're full of fake reviews.
Plus, people are much more likely to leave a review when they've had a bad experience, distorting the overall restaurant's rating.
That can bring disastrous consequences, especially for smaller businesses that have just opened up – one 2020 study found that an early bad review can turn customers away in the long term, and that reviewing platforms actually have an in-built bias towards popular restaurants.
The Food At This Shop Sucked!
I Don’t Know Who You Got Your Food From Tonight, But It Wasn’t Us
A Not So Spicy Life!
As Giorgia Cannarella pointed out in Vice, the only other alternative, it seems, is reading food articles and blogs, hoping to land on an honest critique.
However, if you're familiar with the complex world of culinary criticism, you’ll know these things can also be hit or miss. Sometimes a new spot will get stellar reviews only to disappoint once you get there.
Business Owner Claps Back On Yelp User For Leaving A Negative Comment On His Restaurant
You Wouldn’t Bring Mcdonalds Into An Olive Garden?
My Food = More Important Than Your Life
Different people value different aspects of a restaurant – the decor, the ambiance, the price, the surprise factor, but, according to Slovenian food and travel blogger Kaja Sajovic, there’s actually more to the story.
"We all know that food journalists don't get paid enough to cover the cost of a restaurant dinner, so press trips have become a necessity to do our job," Sajovic said. "And this creates a lot of ethical dilemmas. Can you really give a bad review of a restaurant you've been invited to, with flights and hotels covered? I think it's difficult, and maybe even a little bit unfair."
“Influencer” Goes Out To Dinner
“Politely Restrained”
“The Customer Is Always Right!!”
User Writes 1 Star Review For Competing Restaurant
Of course, Sajovic is mostly talking about freelancers and bloggers. Journalists who get a steady salary and their expenses are always covered can be a lot freer when writing their reviews, but they are certainly the exception rather than the rule in the industry.
Food writer Paola Miglio, editor of Peruvian website El Trinche, said she's always made a point to be uncompromising with her opinions.
"If I don't like something, I say so. And I write it down, even when I’ve been invited [to the restaurant]," Miglio said. "In my three years as a food critic at a newspaper, I have only been bullied a handful of times by a restaurant owner or chef on social media. I've never felt the pressure to praise anything or anyone."
He’s Just Enjoying His Meal, Karen
If it isn't a service animal it can't be there. If a health inspector walked in and saw that he'd close the place immediately.
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Sign me up. I would go to arbys everyday if they had opossum lunch hours. How cute. They're as clean and as friendly as cats.
Seriously. I'm not a huge fan of Arby's, but I would eat there multiple times a day just to see that little possum.
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I do love the idea of a cat cafe, but you do know when you go to one there will be animals.
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I see someone sitting down to eat with a baby possum I am gonna ask to join them and maybe buy some shakes for the table
I’d probably get blasted for trampling people in my rush to get over to the possum!
Load More Replies... I'd have asked to pet it, not complained. It was an emotional support possum.
In most places it's illegal to bring any animal - other than registered service animals - into a dining room.
As it should be. Can't believe there are so many upvotes on this, as if it were a legitimate complaint. There is serious delusion among these people who pride themselves on being animal lovers and they are oh-so-righteous about thinking animals belong everywhere.
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I love possums and this would be OK with me. I recently bought this possum in a peanut. peanut-622...53-png.jpg 
It's a bit odd but I think most people should know by now (at least here), unless you're blind, no animals in restaurants. So, while her rant is pathetic, he probably should have gotten take away.
I didn't think the rant was pathetic. I thought it was spot on.
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Though this is SUPER cute, I think that the lady was right about this one.
I'm booking a flight right NOW! I need to meet that little goblet of gorgeousness!
Yeahh im qctually with Karen on this one. Poosums arnt pets and if its not medivally needed no anilam should be in the restraunt period. Its dtandard health qnd safty measures
i'm on her side with this one. rodents are unsightly in a place such as a restaurant.
The reviewer is absolutely correct, and should have called the health department. I wouldn't bring my cat to a restaurant. Not even an Arby's.
Well I'll be dipped!! Arby's DOES have the meats!! Now I'm wanting their French dip.
If its not eating off your plate, crapping everywhere, attacking you, foaming at the mouth, begging at tables, then why do you care? That's the problem now people looking for issues, getting offended and not keeping their noses out of others business
I mean, only service animals should be in restaurants, but it's no reason to never go to Arby's again
Sorry but animals don't belong in a restaurant or in a grocery store.
So what, does she think possums don’t need to eat to stay alive!?
O shes saying you should bring aniamals (unless service pets) in any restrusnt. Its dangerous and unsanitary. What if it was carrying deassies or ran qround the restraunt or someone was allergic to it. You can feed animals if you want just out aide a restaurant
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Ah, A little possum. They make great pets if you get them young enough. Don't do it unless their mom is dead though, and you have to.
Keeping possums as pets is not recommended. They have a very wide and varied diet and need a lot of room to roam. Most 'pet' possums are massively obese as a consequence. They also don't live for very long. If wild animals need to be reared for some reason, it is highly preferable to pass them to a person who knows how to rehabilitate them for release into the wild, or at least into a natural, outdoor enclosure.
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Excuse me but I live in upper east Tennessee and possums are roadkill and they don't get curly fries. They're mean little shits they get a .22
How flippin' cute is this!?!?! I would have loved to see this!
OK.. so yes... major health code violation, but I would Def set up a table outside, under shelter for someone so kind to an animal... buy their meal.. etc. You can't have wildlife in a restaurant tho to be fair, otherwise you risk being shutdown or prosecuted.
you must be the richest person in the world how much did you pay those 95 people to be your friends. 20 thousand an hour
I would have kept going back for more chances to see baby possum. I mean, I live with two cats and a 5 year old and I guarantee that possum is cleaner.
"So normally I don't complain..." and then proceeds to complain about something really inconsequential Tell me you normally complain about the smallest, most inconsequential thing without telling me you complain about the smallest, most inconsequential thing.
I had a friend who worked at a pet friendly cafe. Most of the time people came in with their dogs, but one time a guy came in with a rabbit and a hamster, but he wasn't disruptive and the bunny and hamster were very cute.
Oh. My. GOODNESS!!!!!! I love it!!! I would have been asking to hold it!!!
I think sharing your food with a baby is just the sweetest thing ever. Possum guy could be the new arby's spokesman and speak for the inclusion of otherwise ignored demographics, like possums and how they love the food there. Too bad there isn't an arby's nearby....
That review could have been written by my mom. She hates possums and thinks they're disgusting lol
Can someone please, please, please give me the name and address of this restaurant and when this guy and his baby possum will be back. I really want to see this.
Yeah, people like health inspectors, OSHA, people who sanitize the table tops where possums were running around - they all ruin the fun.
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That baby possum looks way more well mannered than most human children one sees in restaurants.
Hahahahahaha I'll take the cute little fuzzball over this dramatic ass chick anyday...p.s. dude...you're at f*****g Arby's...not exactly a fine dining experience minus the fuzzbucket... If anything, that cute little thing would be what actually makes me step foot inside the damn place to begin with...sorry to any Arby's lovers but that place makes me gag lol
That possum is more well behaved than most kids I see at restaurants. And he's cuter.
How do cat cafés and dog friendly pubs work, if the presence of one animal is so offensive to some?
It’s actually ridiculously disgusting! They can carry, and pass to humans, TB, Spotted Fever, and a few other dangerous diseases. Not really cute, OR adorable!
who hurt you, too make you this way, possums actually are extremely clean, and yes they can carry diseases, but that's because they are a living animal, pretty sure since humans can get those diseases, humans can already be carrying them. same with raccoons (or trash panda for my family) they clean their food, they aren't as dirty as you think, just because "oh no, scavenger animal."
Load More Replies...”wtf, I Didn’t Want This Food, Why Would You Make Me Eat It??”
The Post That Started It
A*****e must’ve smelled his own booze breath blowing back in his face.
Some People Have No Shame
"There are few chefs who respond well and in-kind to criticism," food journalist Gabriele Zanatta, who writes for the Italian web magazine Identità Golose, explained.
Zanatta thinks that’s because cooks have historically been mostly hidden figures. It was only with France’s nouvelle cuisine movement of the 60s, which revolutionised international cooking, that chefs have become famous and “even achieved celebrity status over the last two decades,” Zanatta explained. "No wonder they’re intolerant to criticism! They had never been on such a pedestal."
3 Stars, Got Caught Shoplifting
Chicken Tenders Heal His Broken Heart (And Home)
I Applaud The Dj
One Star Because The Server Wouldn't Reveal Her Address
However, Zanatta also believes this chef-centric approach to food writing is slowly dying out. "We’re now paying more attention not only to the food but to all the other aspects that make a restaurant a restaurant," he said. In his experience, chefs nowadays are more willing to listen, provided that the criticism they’re receiving is not just a pretext for a food critic to flaunt their knowledge.
Thank You, Kathie
“It’s Not Their Fault”...gives Them 1 Star
“I’ve Been Coming Here For Years And It’s Literally The Best, But During The Pandemic They’ve Sucked! Also I’m Racist”
Chiara Cavalleris, editor in chief of the Italian food news site Dissapore, thinks that food journalists are not to blame for the state of things, but rather the food press in general.
She believes that news outlets are guilty of colluding with restaurant owners, an issue that has also come up in a scandal involving three-Michelin-star Florentine restaurant Enoteca Pinchiorri. In October 2021, its 77-year-old owner Giorgio Pinchiorri was sentenced to 4 months in prison for stalking a former employee, peeling back the veil on his restaurant’s toxic work culture. But none of the mainstream food press in Italy reported on it.
So is there such a thing as an accurate restaurant review? Who knows. But there's no shortage of absurd ones.
You Can’t Even Make Out In Public During A Pandemic
Bagel Drama
She Was Mad Her Tartare Was Undercooked
Not a great idea to order food if you don't even know what it is. Just ask!
Guy Got Booted After Throwing A Fit Because He Was Asked To Turn His Phone Volume Down. He Was Streaming A Football Game In A Nice Restaurant Full Blast. But The Server Was The Inconsiderate One. His Partner Looked So Embarrassed
Someone Reviewed My Workplace
Red Robin Needs To Wise Up
Trendy Asian Burrito Restaurant Near Me
Note: this post originally had 44 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.
I think the internet would be a much better place if everything was done under our legal names. People would think twice about what they say and do.
Or if you could get socked in the lip, I bet 99.9% of all the disrespect would go away
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I like the ones where the businesses identify the reviewer and call them out.
Some of these are funny but in general, I'm not a fan of that. Businesses can lie just as much as customers. A number of times I've been pressured to change a review or had a negative review removed, which IMO makes the review site pointless.
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All of these people are self entitled morons who need to get a life ! Seriously wake up and start cooking yourselves !
I downvoted some that were just the rude poster. I liked the ones where they get a snappy reply back
What a bunch of self-entitles morons. Except the few legitimate ones. These idiots need to just stay the hell at home.
I think the internet would be a much better place if everything was done under our legal names. People would think twice about what they say and do.
Or if you could get socked in the lip, I bet 99.9% of all the disrespect would go away
Load More Replies... I like the ones where the businesses identify the reviewer and call them out.
Some of these are funny but in general, I'm not a fan of that. Businesses can lie just as much as customers. A number of times I've been pressured to change a review or had a negative review removed, which IMO makes the review site pointless.
Load More Replies... All of these people are self entitled morons who need to get a life ! Seriously wake up and start cooking yourselves !
I downvoted some that were just the rude poster. I liked the ones where they get a snappy reply back
What a bunch of self-entitles morons. Except the few legitimate ones. These idiots need to just stay the hell at home.
